10 States With Highest Gasoline Taxes

By Kay Bell, Bankrate.com

Sept. 3, 2013

Joe Raedle/Getty Images

The federal gasoline excise tax rate is 18.4 cents per gallon. States then add their own taxes and fees. The American Petroleum Institute's July 2013 review (done quarterly) found 19 states with combined gas taxes and fees higher than the national average of 49.4 cents per gallon. Check out the top 10 highest gas taxes, state and federal combined.

71.9 cents per gallon

1.

California

The bulk of the Golden State's gas taxes come from its excise tax, which increased to 39.5 cents per gallon July 1.

69 cents per gallon

2.

Hawaii

Gas in America's island paradise is taxed at the state level of 17 cents per gallon. Hawaii also collects sales taxes and an environmental response tax on the fuel.

57.3 cents per gallon

The state's gas excise tax is 18 cents per gallon. Tax collectors in the Hoosier State also get money from sales tax on gas and a 1 cent per gallon inspection fee.

56.3 cents per gallon

8.

North Carolina

The Tar Heel State's 37.6 cents per gallon gasoline excise tax accounts for the bulk of state levies. The only other charge is a 0.3 cents per gallon inspection fee.

55.9 cents per gallon

9.

Washington

Washington's gas excise tax is 37.5 cents per gallon. It's good news for Evergreen State drivers that it doesn't collect any other gas-related fees or taxes, but the combined federal and state excise taxes still amount to more than half a dollar per gallon.

53.8 cents per gallon

10.

Florida

The Sunshine State collects a 4 cents per gallon gasoline excise tax, the smallest rate in the United States. But state and local gas sales taxes help push Florida's gas taxes above the national average.

This work is the opinion of the columnist and in no way reflects the opinion of ABC News.